Following William the Conqueror's victory at
Hastings in 1066, South-West England held out against him. Exeter
was the centre of the rebellion. William brought his army against
the city in 1068; Exeter capitulated after an 18-day siege but only
after William had guaranteed its ancient liberties. William himself
chose Rougemont for the site of a new castle within the walls which
would ensure control of the city. It took the form of a RINGWORK—
a massive bank and ditch surrounding a small enclosure, without
a central mound, built in one corner of the Roman walls. Exeter
Castle gatehouse is the oldest castle building standing in Britain.
It displays a mixture of Anglo-Saxon features (long-and-short quoins
and triangular-headed windows) with Norman ones (e.g. cushion capitals). |
Rougemont Castle was besieged in the early
12th century by king Stephen who built a small ringwork castle of
earth and timber on the opposite side of the Longbrook Valley to
conduct the siege. Now known (wrongly) as Danes Castle, it stands
behind Exeter Prison. The site was excavated in 1992–3 and was subsequently
donated by South West Water to Exeter City. |
